Abstract 5510: Assessing the level of breast cancer awareness among recently diagnosed patients in Ain Shams University Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: 97% of Egyptian breast cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stage, 70.6% possess positive lymph node metastasis on diagnosis while only 29.4% are free of metastasis reflecting late presentation of Egyptian patients. PURPOSE: Assess the level of knowledge about breast cancer among recently diagnosed breast cancer patients at Ain Shams University Hospitals. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, analytical observational study, we randomly enrolled 289 breast cancer patients with 45 of them who were recently diagnosed at Ain Shams University Hospitals meeting our inclusion criteria.Recurring patients or those unaware of diagnosis were excluded. Patients were interviewed using a specially designed questionnaire -of 75 questions over 60 minutes. Questionnaire gathered socio-demographic information, maternity history and tested knowledge of risk factors, signs and symptoms, screening options, management and prognosis of breast cancer was tested. Data was correlated to TNM staging. RESULTS: Patients’ age ranged between 30-72 years (mean 48±10.19). 40% were illiterate and only 15.6% finished higher education with 6-month average delay in seeking medical attention. Among the 45, TNM staging was assessed in 19 patients. Although 93% knew painless mass was symptom of breast cancer, 69% presented with painless mass and 47% knew someone with breast cancer prior to diagnosis, yet 24% thought they might have breast cancer. Regarding regular clinical breast exam 58% agreed to have it but 60% didn't know what was mammography, 56% didn't hear about breast self-exam and only 22% knew breast cancer had risk factors. Moreover, 58% thought treatment caused patients to be very ill, 29% thought breast cancer had good survival, yet 75% thought breast cancer is curable. Total breast cancer knowledge scores were low, with a median of 13 (out of 35) and mean of 12.64 ±5.12. CONCLUSIONS: Patients had acceptable awareness about breast cancer symptoms yet displayed gross ignorance about risk factors and poor awareness about screening, management and prognosis, correlating with their advanced TNM score. Therefore, raising breast cancer awareness and promoting education and early detection among our community is important. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5510. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5510